U.S. patent application number 12/706699 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for print control apparatus and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Tadanobu Fujita, Yasuo Kurata, Hiroshi Okubo, Hiroshi Shintoku, Tetsuhide Takasaki.
Application Number | 20100231960 12/706699 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42077206 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100231960 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kurata; Yasuo ; et
al. |
September 16, 2010 |
PRINT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
When a printer apparatus is allowed to execute a printing of a
document using paper based on a print setting set by the user, the
following processes are executed in order to allow the user to
recognize a paper saving print setting. Whether or not there is a
print setting which can save an amount of paper compared to the
print setting set by the user is determined. If it is determined
that a paper saving print setting exists, the user is notified of
such a paper saving print setting.
Inventors: |
Kurata; Yasuo;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) ; Fujita; Tadanobu;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Shintoku; Hiroshi;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) ; Okubo; Hiroshi;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) ; Takasaki; Tetsuhide; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
1290 Avenue of the Americas
NEW YORK
NY
10104-3800
US
|
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
42077206 |
Appl. No.: |
12/706699 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1251 20130101;
G06K 15/4065 20130101; G06F 3/1254 20130101; G06F 3/1219 20130101;
G06K 15/005 20130101; G06F 3/1255 20130101; G06F 3/1256 20130101;
G06K 15/00 20130101; G06F 3/1232 20130101; G06K 15/007 20130101;
G06K 15/1806 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.15 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 10, 2009 |
JP |
2009-056096 |
Claims
1. A print control apparatus for controlling a printer apparatus to
execute a printing of a document using paper, based on a print
setting set by a user, comprising: a determining unit configured to
determine whether or not a print setting different from that set by
the user exists which makes possible a saving of an amount of paper
compared to the set print setting; and a notifying unit configured,
in the case that the determining unit determines such a paper
saving print setting exists, to notify the user of the existence of
the paper saving print setting determined by the determining
unit.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit
is configured to make the determination based on a size of the
document and a size of the paper used for printing.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
specifying unit configured to specify the amount of paper which can
be saved in the case of printing according to the paper saving
print setting as compared with printing according to the print
setting set by the user, wherein the notifying unit is further
configured to notify the user of the paper amount specified by the
specifying unit.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a preview
unit configured to provide a print preview to be displayed on a
display device showing how the document is arranged on the paper in
the case of printing according to the paper saving print
setting.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the preview unit is
configured to provide a print preview in the case of printing
according to the print setting set by the user and a print preview
in the case of printing according to the paper saving print setting
to be displayed.
6. A print control method of controlling a printer apparatus to
execute a printing of a document using paper, based on a print
setting set by a user, the method comprising: determining whether
or not a print setting different from that set by the user exists
which makes possible a saving of an amount of paper compared to the
set print setting; and in the case that it is determined that such
a paper saving print setting exists, notifying the user of the
existence of the paper saving print setting determined in the
determining step.
7. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be
executed by a computer, said program adapted for controlling a
printer apparatus to execute a printing of a document using paper,
based on a print setting set by a user, comprising: determining
whether or not a print setting different from that set by the user
exists which makes possible a saving of an amount of paper compared
to the set print setting; and in the case that it is determined
that such a paper saving print setting exists, notifying the user
of the existence of the paper saving print setting determined in
the determining step.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to print control apparatus and
method for allowing a printer apparatus to execute a printing based
on print settings set by a user.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In the related art, when a printer apparatus is allowed to
execute a printing, the user makes print settings such as size and
orientation of a sheet (or paper) and subsequently instructs the
printing. When the printing is instructed, there is also a case
where in a printer driver or the like, the printing is executed
according to the print settings which have already been made,
without displaying a display screen for print setting.
[0005] A print preview function for enabling the user to previously
confirm how an image is arranged on the paper prior to executing
the printing has been known (refer to Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. 2006-202112). By using the print preview function,
the user can execute the printing after confirming that, for
example, if the image is rotated by 90.degree., the paper can be
unwastefully used.
[0006] However, in the related art, in order to execute the
printing in which the paper is unwastefully used, the user needs to
preliminarily know the settings adapted to print without wastefully
using the paper and to make such settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an aspect of the invention to solve the above
problems.
[0008] Another aspect of the invention is to allow the user to
execute a printing based on print settings in which paper can be
saved.
[0009] The above-mentioned aspects and further features of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a construction of a print
processing system PR1.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a user interface of a
printer driver.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow for processes at
the time of activating the printer driver.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process for determining
whether or not the paper can be saved.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a table T1 showing a
determination result.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating examples of a print
preview.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog
adapted to notify that the paper can be saved.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating examples of a print
preview.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating examples of a print
preview.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating examples of a print
preview.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0020] An embodiment of the invention will be described in detail
hereinbelow with reference to the drawings. A construction
illustrated in the following embodiment is nothing but an example
and the invention is not limited to the illustrated
construction.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a construction of a print
processing system PR1 including a personal computer (hereinbelow,
referred to as a PC) 201 as an example of a print control apparatus
of the invention and a large-sized printer (hereinbelow, referred
to as a printer) 202 as an example of a printer apparatus. The PC
201 and the printer 202 are mutually connected through a network or
a local interface and can exchange various kinds of
information.
[0022] The PC 201 can be realized by a general personal computer
and includes processing modules 203 to 209, which will be described
hereinbelow. Those modules can be installed into the PC 201 by
using an installer obtained from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM
or from the outside. Each module installed into the PC 201 is
stored into a storage device of the PC 201. A CPU executes each
module, so that processes, which will be described hereinafter, are
realized. A display is connected to the PC 201. The various kinds
of information are displayed onto the display, thereby enabling the
user to be notified of the various kinds of information. Input
devices such as keyboard, mouse, and the like are connected to the
PC 201. The user inputs various kinds of instructions from the
input device with reference to a display screen displayed on the
display.
[0023] The following various kinds of processes are executed
according to the contents which were input.
[0024] An OS 203 is an operating system. The processing modules 204
to 209 operate on the OS 203. A printer driver 204 controls the
operation of the printer 202 according to print settings designated
by the user. The printer driver 204 provides at least functions 206
to 208. An application 205 is software to form a desired original
(document) as a print target. The user selects the printer 202 from
a print menu of the application 205, so that the printer driver 204
can be activated. A user interface (UI) 206 provides a setting
display screen which is used by the user to make the print settings
or the like. The setting display screen which is provided by the
user interface 206 is displayed on the display of the PC 201. A
graphic processing unit 207 processes the original obtained from
the application 205 according to the print settings designated by
the user and converts it into print data which can be handled by
the printer 202.
[0025] The user interface 206 forms display screen information
which is used by the user to make various kinds of settings such as
print setting and the like. An operating display screen based on
the display screen information is displayed on the display of the
PC 201. According to the print settings set based on the display
screen information formed by the user interface 206, the graphic
processing unit 207 converts the original received from the
application 205 into the print data of a format which can be
handled by the printer 202. Before the original received from the
application 205 is printed by the printer 202, a print preview
control unit 208 forms print preview information showing how an
image based on the original is arranged on the sheet. The print
preview information formed here is displayed on the display of the
PC 201. A printer information acquiring unit 209 acquires various
kinds of information such as size information and the like of the
set paper from the printer 202.
[0026] The printer 202 receives the print data transmitted from the
PC 201 and prints the image onto the paper according to the print
data. When the image is printed, one of ink and toner is used as a
recording material. The printer 202 can use roll paper as paper
(recording medium) to print the image. The printer 202 prints the
image by applying the recording material onto the roll paper which
is fed from a roll paper feeding unit. A material of the recording
medium is not limited to the paper but various kinds of materials
can be used. However, it is assumed hereinbelow that the recording
medium is expressed as roll paper. When the image is printed onto
the roll paper, based on an instruction from the printer driver
204, the printer 202 can print the image of an arbitrary length (in
a paper feeding direction) so long as it is a permissible length.
After completion of the printing of the length designated from the
printer driver 204, the roll paper can be cut. The printer 202 may
be provided with a feeding unit for the cut paper and can also
print the image onto the cut paper. As size information, the
printer 202 transmits information showing a width of roll paper
with respect to the roll paper and information showing a
width/length size with respect to the cut paper, to the printer
information acquiring unit 209.
[0027] Subsequently, the operation contents at the time when the
user instructs the printing from the PC 201 will be described. FIG.
2 illustrates an operating display screen (driver UI) which is
displayed on the display of the PC 201 based on the display screen
information which is formed by the user interface 206. The display
screen of FIG. 2 is displayed in the case where the user selected
the printer 202 from the print menu of the application 205.
[0028] In FIG. 2, a combo box 301 is provided to designate the size
of original formed by the application 205. The original size
designated when the original is formed by the application 205 is
automatically input. When a different size is designated here, the
original is zoomed according to the size. A combo box 302 is
provided to designate a type of feeding the paper which is used to
print the image. As a paper feeding type which can be designated,
there is roll paper, a cassette (in which the cut paper has been
set), a manual insertion, or the like. If there are a plurality of
paper feeding units which can feed the roll paper, a paper feeding
stage can be also designated. A combo box 303 displays the width of
roll paper set in the printer 202. When the roll paper is selected
as a paper feeding type, the roll paper width is acquired from the
printer 202 by the printer information acquiring unit 209. However,
if the roll paper width cannot be acquired from the printer 202 by
the printer information acquiring unit 209, it may be selected by
the operation of the user and displayed. In the subsequent
processes, the roll paper width acquired by the printer information
acquiring unit 209 or the roll paper width selected by the user is
also similarly handled. When the cassette is selected as a paper
feeding type, a size of cut paper (size of the A series or the B
series of ISO) is displayed.
[0029] A check box 304 is one of paper saving functions and is
provided to designate whether or not the original is rotated by
90.degree. to execute printing. If the paper feeding type indicates
the roll paper and the original is vertically long and a length of
long side of the original is equal to or less than the width of
roll paper, the original is rotated by 90.degree. for printing,
whereby margins (portions other than the original) are smaller than
margins which are obtained by printing in a state where the
original is held to be vertically long. Thus, since a paper feeding
amount is decreased, the paper can be saved. In such a case, by
marking the check box 304, the graphic processing unit 207 allows
the original to be rotated and, thereafter, transmits the print
data to the printer 202. In a case, though the original was rotated
by 90.degree., the paper saving cannot be accomplished (for
example, in the case where the original is vertically long and the
length of long side of the original is longer than the width of
roll paper), the printing is not executed even if the check box 304
was marked.
[0030] A check box 305 is one of the paper saving functions and is
provided to designate whether or not portions (upper and lower
margins) in which a valid image (image to which the recording
material should be applied upon printing) is not included in the
original received from the application 205 are erased. When the
paper feeding type indicates the roll paper and the upper and lower
(portions corresponding to the upstream and downstream positions in
the paper feeding direction of the roll paper) margins of the
original are erased irrespective of the designated original size,
an amount of the roll paper which is used can be reduced, so that
the paper can be saved. In such a case, by marking the check box
305, the graphic processing unit 207 allows the upper and lower
portions where the valid image is not included to be erased from
the original, and thereafter transmits the print data to the
printer 202.
[0031] Although the case where the page is rotated by 90.degree.
and the case where the upper and lower margins are erased have been
shown as paper saving functions, the invention is not limited to
them but a function of saving the paper by another method may be
added, the above method may be replaced by another method, or one
of the above two methods may be used.
[0032] A check box 306 is provided to designate whether or not a
print preview is performed before executing the printing. If an OK
button 307 is designated in a state where the check box 306 has
been marked, the print preview is executed. If the printing is
instructed after the print preview was executed, the print data is
transmitted to the printer 202. If the OK button 307 is designated
in a state where the check box 306 is not marked, the print data is
transmitted to the printer 202 without executing the print
preview.
[0033] If the OK button 307 is designated, the print data to which
the foregoing setting contents have been reflected is sent to the
graphic processing unit 207 and the window (driver UI) of FIG. 2 is
closed. When the print preview is executed, the graphic processing
unit 207 transmits the print data to which the contents set by the
driver UI have been reflected to the print preview control unit
208. If the print preview is not executed, the print data is
transferred to the printer 202 and the printing is executed. If a
cancel button 308 is designated, the contents which have been set
and changed by the user on the display screen of FIG. 2 are not
validated and the window of FIG. 2 is closed in a state before the
display screen of FIG. 2 is displayed.
[0034] Subsequently, a flow for processes when the printer driver
204 is activated will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart
illustrating a flow for the processes. The flowchart shows the
processes which are executed in the case where the CPU of the PC
201 reads out the program of the printer driver 204 from a storage
device, loads it into the RAM, and executes the program.
[0035] When the user forms the original as a print target by the
application 205 and selects the printer 202 from the print menu of
the application 205, the printer driver 204 is activated and the
contents which have been set at present by the combo boxes 301 and
302 and the check boxes 304 to 306 in FIG. 2 are acquired (S101).
It is assumed here that the "roll paper" has been set as a paper
feeding type and the check box 306 has been marked.
[0036] Subsequently, whether or not size information (in this
instance, since the paper feeding type indicates the roll paper,
the width of roll paper) of the paper which is used for printing
can be acquired from the printer 202 is determined in the printer
information acquiring unit 209 (S102). If it can be acquired,
information of the width of roll paper which has been set in the
printer 202 at present and is used for printing is acquired by the
printer information acquiring unit 209 in S103. If it cannot be
acquired, information of the width of roll paper which has been
designated in the combo box 303 is acquired. The acquired
information of the roll paper width is stored into the RAM in the
PC 201.
[0037] Subsequently, the processing routine advances to S104 and
whether or not the printing in which the paper is saved can be
performed is determined based on the size of original as a print
target and the width of roll paper which is used for printing.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating details of the process of
S104.
[0039] When the process is started, first, a table T1 for
determining whether or not the printing in which the paper is saved
can be performed is formed in the RAM. The table T1 is initialized
in S401.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the table T1.
The following items 501 to 503 are involved in the table T1 as
items of the paper saving functions. The item 501 shows a
processing result in the case where the page has been rotated by
90.degree.. The item 502 shows a processing result in the case
where the upper and lower margins have been erased and the page has
been rotated by 90.degree.. The item 503 shows a processing result
in the case where the upper and lower margins have been erased but
the page is not rotated by 90.degree.. The processing result
showing whether or not the paper can be saved
(possible=True/impossible=False) and a paper saving amount (length)
in the case of "True" are written in each of the items. In a state
where the table T1 has been initialized, "False" is written in all
of the determination results and "0 mm (zero millimeter)" is
written in all of the paper saving amounts.
[0041] Subsequently, whether or not the check box 304 has been
marked is determined in S402 based on the information acquired in
S101. If it has been marked, since this means that the user has
already instructed that the page is rotated by 90.degree. as a
paper saving function, whether or not the paper can be saved by
rotating the page by 90.degree. is not determined but the
processing routine advances to S406. If the check box 304 is not
marked, S403 follows and whether or not the original can be rotated
by 90.degree. and printed is determined based on the size of
original as a print target displayed in the combo box 301 and the
acquired width of roll paper which is used for printing. That is,
whether or not the length of original in the direction
corresponding to the roll paper width in the case where the
original has been rotated by 90.degree. is equal to or less than
the acquired roll paper width is determined. If the printing in
which the original has been rotated by 90.degree. cannot be
performed, S406 follows. In S404, the length of paper which can be
saved when the original has been rotated by 90.degree. as compared
with that in the case where it is not rotated is calculated. It is
assumed here that the size of the original is the vertically long
size and the paper at the time when the original is rotated by
90.degree. can be saved. Since the paper at the time when the
original is rotated by 90.degree. can be saved, in S405, the
determination result in the item 501 on the table T1 indicates
"True" and the paper saving amount is updated to the length (of
paper which can be saved) calculated in S404. If the size of the
original is the laterally long size and the paper at the time when
the original is rotated by 90.degree. cannot be saved, it is
determined and its determination result may be reflected to the
table T1.
[0042] Whether or not the check box 305 has been marked is
determined in S406 based on the information acquired in S101. If it
has been marked, since this means that the user has already
instructed the operation for erasing the upper and lower margins as
a paper saving function, whether or not the paper can be saved by
erasing the upper and lower margins is not determined but the
processing routine is finished. If the check box 305 is not marked,
S407 follows, and whether or not there are the upper and lower
margins which can be erased in the case where the original as a
print target has been rotated by 90.degree. and in the case where
it is not rotated, is determined. If there are the margins which
can be erased, the paper saving amounts of the upper and lower
margins in the case where the original has been rotated by
90.degree. and those in the case where it is not rotated are
calculated in S408. In S409, the determination results in the items
502 and 503 on the table T1 indicate "True" and the paper saving
amount is updated to the length (of paper which can be saved)
calculated in S408. If the upper and lower margins which can be
erased do not exist in the case where the original has been rotated
by 90.degree. or in the case where it is not rotated, the
determination result is held to be "False".
[0043] Returning to FIG. 3, the contents of the table T1 updated as
illustrated in FIG. 4 are confirmed in S105. If the determination
result of "True" is included in any one of the items 501 to 503,
the processing routine advances to S106. Since the check box 306
has been marked here, the print preview is performed. At this time,
a largest one of the paper saving amounts on the table T1 is also
simultaneously displayed. If the determination result of "True" is
not included in the items 501 to 503, this means that the paper
saving function cannot be used. The processing routine advances to
S107 and the print preview is displayed without notifying that the
paper can be saved.
[0044] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print
preview which is displayed in S106. The print preview is displayed
on the display of the PC 201 under control of the print preview
control unit 208.
[0045] A print preview display area 601, a print button 602, a
cancel button 603, a button 604, and a paper saving possible amount
display area 605 are included in the preview display screen.
[0046] How the original as a print target is arranged on the roll
paper which is used for printing based on the information obtained
in S101 and S103 is displayed in the print preview display area
601. The case where the roll paper has been selected as a paper
feeding type is illustrated in FIG. 6. The paper feeding direction
is a direction which is oriented from the lower position to the
upper position. When the print button 602 is designated in this
state, in the graphic processing unit 207, the process based on the
paper saving function is not executed to the original as a print
target but the original is converted into the print data and the
print data is transmitted to the printer 202. When the cancel
button 603 is designated, the window of FIG. 6 is closed and the
printing process is cancelled. A maximum value of the paper saving
possible amount is displayed in the display area 605. A larger one
of the paper saving possible amount in the item 503 and the sum of
the paper saving possible amounts in the items 501 and 502 is used
here based on the table T1. That is, since the sum of the paper
saving possible amounts in the items 501 and 502 is equal to 140 mm
and the paper saving possible amount in the item 503 is equal to
150 mm in FIG. 6, 150 mm is displayed in the display area 605.
[0047] When the button 604 is designated, a dialog like FIG. 7 for
notifying the user that the paper can be saved is displayed.
Although check boxes 701 and 702 are included in the dialog, the
items of "False" on the table T1 cannot be selected.
[0048] The paper saving possible amount is displayed in a display
area 703 according to the selecting states of the check boxes 701
and 702. Since the check box 701 has been marked in FIG. 7, 90 mm
is displayed with reference to the value in the item 501 on the
table T1.
[0049] When an OK button 704 is designated, the contents designated
in the check boxes 701 and 702 are reflected to the print preview.
When a cancel button 705 is designated, the display screen is
returned to the display screen of FIG. 6.
[0050] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the print preview which is
displayed in the case where the OK button 704 is designated in the
state where the check box 701 has been marked. A print preview
display area 801 illustrates a state where the original of FIG. 6
has been rotated by 90.degree.. When the print button is designated
in this state, in the graphic processing unit 207, the original as
a print target is rotated by 90.degree. and, thereafter, it is
converted into the print data and the print data is transmitted to
the printer 202. In the display, the paper saving possible amount
may be also simultaneously displayed. When a button 802 is
designated, the display screen is returned to the display screen of
FIG. 6.
[0051] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the print preview which is
displayed in the case where the OK button 704 is designated in the
state where the check box 702 has been marked. A print preview
display area 901 illustrates a state where the upper and lower
margins have been erased from the original of FIG. 6. When the
print button is designated in this state, in the graphic processing
unit 207, the upper and lower margins are erased from the original
as a print target and, thereafter, the original is converted into
the print data and the print data is transmitted to the printer
202. Other operations are similar to those in the example of FIG.
8.
[0052] When both of the check boxes 701 and 702 have been marked in
FIG. 7, the original in the case where the original was rotated by
90.degree. and the upper and lower margins were erased is
displayed. Other operations are similar to those in the cases of
FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0053] The print preview in the case where the paper saving
function is used and the print preview in the case where it is not
used may be simultaneously displayed as illustrated in FIG. 10.
That is, when the OK button 704 is designated in the dialog of FIG.
7, the print preview of FIG. 10 is displayed in place of the print
previews of FIGS. 8 and 9. A print preview display area 1001 is
similar to that of FIG. 6. A print preview display area 1002 is
similar to those of FIGS. 8 and 9. A button 1003, a print button
1004, and a cancel button 1005 are also similar to those described
above and their description is omitted here.
[0054] According to the embodiment as mentioned above, when the
user does not use the paper saving function, the user can easily
recognize the existence of the paper saving function which was not
used. When the printing in which the paper can be saved by an
amount larger than that in the case of the present print settings
can be performed, the user can easily recognize it.
[0055] Further, according to the embodiment mentioned above, the
user can easily recognize the paper saving amount which can be
saved by setting the paper saving function. Moreover, the user can
easily compare the print result obtained in the case where the
paper saving function has been set and that in the case where the
paper saving function is not set. The user can easily select the
setting of the paper saving function.
[0056] By the print preview having those functions, the user can
easily set the paper saving function while previously confirming
the print result and can properly suppress wasteful use of the
paper upon printing.
[0057] In the above embodiment, when the dialog of FIG. 7 is
displayed, the marking states of the check boxes 701 and 702 may be
reflected so that the maximum amount of paper can be saved. That
is, since it is the item 503 that the printer driver 204 can mostly
save the paper amount with reference to the table T1, the marking
of the check box 701 is reset and the check box 702 is marked in
the dialog of FIG. 7. Thus, in this example merely by designating
the OK button 704 with the check box 702 marked and the check box
701 unmarked, the user can execute the printing in which the paper
amount can be saved the most.
[0058] When the print preview of FIG. 6 is displayed, such a print
preview that the state of the item 503 in which the paper amount
can be mostly saved has been reflected may be displayed.
Consequently, merely by designating the print button 602 as it is,
the user can execute the printing in which the paper amount can be
saved the most.
[0059] Although the case where the print data is transmitted from
the PC 201 to the printer 202 and printed has been described above
as an example, the invention can be also applied to such a system
that a scanner for reading the original is provided for the printer
202 and an image of the original read out by the scanner is
printed. In this case, the printer 202 is a print control
apparatus, the processes executed by the PC 201 as described above
are executed by the printer 202 and the display information is
displayed onto an operation panel or the like of the printer 202. A
controller (print control apparatus) of the printer 202 allows its
own printer unit (printer apparatus) to execute the printing.
[0060] The invention is also realized by executing the following
processes: processes which are executed in the case where software
(program) for realizing the functions of the embodiments mentioned
above is supplied to a system or an apparatus through a network or
various kinds of storage media and a computer (or a CPU, an MPU, or
the like) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the
program. The program which is executed by the printer apparatus may
be executed by one CPU or may be executed by a plurality of CPUs in
an interlocking relational manner. The processes may be executed by
properly combining software and hardware. The program may be
executed by a CPU of an apparatus provided outside the printer
apparatus in place of the CPU in the printer apparatus.
[0061] The invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments
but various modifications (including a combination of a plurality
of embodiments) are possible based on a spirit of the invention and
they are not excluded from the scope of the invention.
[0062] Although the various examples and embodiments of the
invention have been described above, the spirit and scope of the
invention is not limited by the specific description of the
invention.
[0063] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
[0064] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2009-056096, filed Mar. 10, 2009, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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